In this episode of the Girl Boss Red Flags Podcast, Erin and Tay chat with Dena Rafati about her experience of being scammed out of £27,000 (around $35,000) by a business coaching program. They discuss the shady aspects of the coaching world, highlighting red flags in contracts, the difference between coaching and service providing, and how manipulative sales tactics can mess with your mental health. The episode also gives tips on avoiding these scams and making smart choices when investing in coaching.

CHAPTERS

01:06 Meet Dena

02:24 The Coaching Scam Unveiled

07:54 The Importance of Contracts and Deliverables

16:50 Mental Health Impact and Toxic Positivity

25:52 Hierarchy and Toxic Coaching Practices

40:31 Advice for Future Coaching Investments

Connect with Dena Rafati here

--

CONNECT WITH GBRF

Follow @girlbossredflags on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

Submit your Media Inquiries here

Mentioned in this episode:

Girl Boss Red Flags Disclaimer and Trigger Warning

Some of the topics that we talk about in this episode may be triggering or distressing. If you find yourself experiencing strong emotions at any point during listening, please do what you need to do to take care of yourself. Secondly, nothing that we discuss in this episode constitutes legal, medical, or professional mental health advice. We are not lawyers, we are not doctors, and we are not clinical mental health professionals. If you think that you or someone you know may have been scammed, please consult the relevant professionals so that you can get the advice that you need for your situation.

In this episode of the Girlboss Red Flags Podcast, Erin and Tay bring on Nafissa Shireen, an intuitive business and leadership coach. She spills the tea on dropping $30,000 on a publicity campaign that had very little return on investment.

This episode is all about spotting warning signs in your online investments. They stress how crucial contracts are, what to look for in trustworthy services, and taking responsibility for your choices. Nafissa gets real about how ignoring those red flags can wreck you emotionally and financially. Plus, they share smart tips for making savvy business moves.

CHAPTERS

01:05 Nafissa's $30,000 Publicity Situation

06:12 Red Flags Ignored

13:40 Educational Insights on Visibility and Podcasts

23:03 Emotional Impact and Lessons Learned

30:26 Green Flags and Positive Experiences

37:05 Conclusion and Contact Information

Connect with Nafissa Shireen on Instagram

--

CONNECT WITH GBRF

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @girlbossredflags

Submit your Media Inquiries here

Mentioned in this episode:

Girl Boss Red Flags Disclaimer and Trigger Warning

Some of the topics that we talk about in this episode may be triggering or distressing. If you find yourself experiencing strong emotions at any point during listening, please do what you need to do to take care of yourself. Secondly, nothing that we discuss in this episode constitutes legal, medical, or professional mental health advice. We are not lawyers, we are not doctors, and we are not clinical mental health professionals. If you think that you or someone you know may have been scammed, please consult the relevant professionals so that you can get the advice that you need for your situation.

In this episode of Girl Boss Red Flags, Erin has a conversation with Uwem Ward, a graphic and web designer, who dives into her nightmare with a scammy web designer. Uwem talks about the signs she overlooked, the hard lessons she picked up, and gives solid tips for entrepreneurs to avoid getting burned like she did. The episode hammers home the need for contracts, thorough vetting, and keeping clear boundaries when hiring online services.

CHAPTERS

01:04 Uwem Ward's Shocking Story

07:52 The Red Flags Unveiled

12:53 Lessons Learned and Advice

18:40 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Connect with Uwem Ward here

--

CONNECT WITH GBRF

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @girlbossredflags

Submit your Media Inquiries here

Mentioned in this episode:

Girl Boss Red Flags Disclaimer and Trigger Warning

Some of the topics that we talk about in this episode may be triggering or distressing. If you find yourself experiencing strong emotions at any point during listening, please do what you need to do to take care of yourself. Secondly, nothing that we discuss in this episode constitutes legal, medical, or professional mental health advice. We are not lawyers, we are not doctors, and we are not clinical mental health professionals. If you think that you or someone you know may have been scammed, please consult the relevant professionals so that you can get the advice that you need for your situation.

In this episode of the Girlboss Red Flags Podcast, Erin and Tay chat with Lilly Penhall about a nightmare experience with a shady book editor who scammed her client. They dive into spotting red flags in the publishing world and emphasize the need for proof, transparency, and doing your homework when hiring. Lilly also talks about common scam tactics and shares what to look for to make sure you're working with legit people in publishing. 

CHAPTERS

01:24 Meet Our Guest: Lily Penhall

02:18 Lilly's Scammer Experience Begins

05:33 Red Flags and Initial Concerns

08:25 The Scam Unfolds

16:43 Discovering the Truth

21:00 Lessons Learned and Advice

35:16 Green Flags to Look For

39:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Lilly Penhall on Instagram

--

CONNECT WITH GBRF

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @girlbossredflags

Submit your Media Inquiries here

Mentioned in this episode:

Girl Boss Red Flags Disclaimer and Trigger Warning

Some of the topics that we talk about in this episode may be triggering or distressing. If you find yourself experiencing strong emotions at any point during listening, please do what you need to do to take care of yourself. Secondly, nothing that we discuss in this episode constitutes legal, medical, or professional mental health advice. We are not lawyers, we are not doctors, and we are not clinical mental health professionals. If you think that you or someone you know may have been scammed, please consult the relevant professionals so that you can get the advice that you need for your situation.

In this premiere episode of the Girl Boss Red Flags Podcast, Erin Billings and Tay Francis share their personal stories of being scammed out of significant sums of money through various unethical online business coaching programs and service providers.

They discuss their motive behind creating this podcast: to provide a platform for scam survivors, to educate others on recognizing red flags, and to offer advice on who to trust in the online business space.

Erin details her harrowing experience of being scammed by a former employer who owes her $100,000 in unpaid wages, while Tay recounts her ordeal with unethical coaching programs that promised more than they could deliver.

They emphasize the importance of accountability, recognizing coercive sales tactics, and standing against unethical practices in the coaching industry.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Girlboss Red Flags Podcast

02:17 Disclaimers and Legal Boundaries

04:24 Tay's Recent Predatory Sales Experience

17:15 Manipulative Tactics in Coaching Programs

25:31 Erin's Unpaid Wages Nightmare

38:13 Call for Justice and Industry Change

46:18 Conclusion and Call to Action

--

CONNECT WITH GBRF

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @girlbossredflags

--

Submit your Media Inquiries here

Mentioned in this episode:

Girl Boss Red Flags Disclaimer and Trigger Warning

Some of the topics that we talk about in this episode may be triggering or distressing. If you find yourself experiencing strong emotions at any point during listening, please do what you need to do to take care of yourself. Secondly, nothing that we discuss in this episode constitutes legal, medical, or professional mental health advice. We are not lawyers, we are not doctors, and we are not clinical mental health professionals. If you think that you or someone you know may have been scammed, please consult the relevant professionals so that you can get the advice that you need for your situation.

Have you ever fallen prey to an online business scam? Hosted by Erin Billings and Tay Francis, Girl Boss Red Flags is a podcast series dedicated to calling out the red flags in the online business world. 

After their own traumatic experiences of being scammed, Erin and Tay are on a mission to raise awareness about shady practices in the unregulated online marketplace.

In each episode, you’ll hear jaw-dropping stories from real survivors who lost thousands to so-called #girlbosses in the coaching, publishing, and media industries. You’ll learn what red flags—and green flags—to look out for when hiring a coach, consultant or service provider. You’ll hear from experts who will unpack gaslighting, love-bombing, narcissism, and other harmful behaviors in the online business space. And you’ll get tangible advice about who to trust with your money online.

In this trailer, you hear from:

• Lilly Penhall
• Uwem Ward
• Nafissa Shireen
• Stacey Sanderson, RP

Disclaimer: This is not a takedown of the online business or coaching industries; Erin and Tay are online service providers who are committed to helping the industry do better for consumers. By tuning in, you’ll learn to recognise if you’ve fallen prey to a scam, begin to heal from the heartbreak of being scammed and take off the rose-coloured glasses so you can see the red flags for what they are before it’s too late.